Mail-bag catcher.



No. 800,135. i PATENTEDV SEPT. 2 ,1905.

H. s. BOSTIAN. MAIL BAG OATOHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.29.1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT c rion.

HAZELIUS S. BOSTIAN, OF OHINAGROVE, NORTH CAROLINA.

V MAIL-BAG CATOHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

I Application filed March 29, 1906. Serial No. 252,735.

'10 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAZELIUS S. Bos'rIAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chinagrove, in the county of Rowan and State ofmail-bag catchers, and has for its object to provide a simple, durable, and comparatively inexpensive device of this character which is adapted to be readily swung into position for the purpose of catching the mail-bags from a crane or from a passing train.

A further object of the invention is to pro- I vide means for enabling the mail-bag catcher the moving mail-car.

to catch a bag of mail at a safe distance from the train, thereby removing the danger of bodily injury to those on the train by being struck by the cranes, which at the present time are dangerously close to the track.

With these and other, objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part of the specification, and in which like numerals of refer- .ence designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail-bag catcher constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the collar having a flange.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a flat head or socket having a handle 2 engaging the inner side thereof and the mail-catching hook 3 engaging the opposite side thereof, the inner ends of both the handle 2 and the hook 3 projecting into a recess in said head and adjustably maintained therein by set-screws 1 in such manner that the said handle and the hook can be set at the desired distance from the swinging head 1 to adapt the device for operation in connection with mail-carrying posts located at different distances from the side of This swinging head 1 is adapted to be journaled on the cross-rod 5, attached in the usual manner to the side frames of the mail-car door. At one end of the swingrod 5 and projects outwardly against a collar 8, adjustably secured upon said cross-rod 5, by means of a set-screw 9, to give the proper tension to said spring when required. At the opposite end of said cross-rod 5 and adjustably secured thereon by set-screw 10 is provided a collar 11, having a circular and upwardly-extending flange or rim 12, arranged at right angles thereto. The inner face of this flange or rim 12 is provided with depressions or semicircular cavities 13 for the engagementtherewith of the beveled outer end of a short rod 1 1, the opposite end of which is secured in a recess in the adjacent end of the swinging head or socket 1. swung outwardly to catch and retain the mailbag upon the outwardly-projecting hook 3,

said head or socket is held in such position by means of its frictional engagement with one of said depressions 13 until the mail-bag is caught, which causes the rebound of said head or socket upon the spring 7, thereby disengaging such frictional contact and allowing said head or socket to be swung downwardly to deliver the mail-bag into the car. In like manner the head or socket 1 may be swung into a perpendicular or inoperative position-and held in such position by the frictional engagement of the rod 14, carried thereby, with one of the said recesses 13.

When the head or socket 1 is- The hook or mail-catcher 3 may be readily I adjusted in the head or socket 1 to project outwardly the proper distance to catch the mail-bag to be received, the inner end or bend 15 being provided with 1 fiat springs 16, one on each arm of said bend, and the outer ends of said springs being suitably secured thereto, while the inner free ends of said springs are curved and have an opening 17 in each to encircle the arms of the bends and hold said springs in their proper position laterally. When a mail-bag is received by said hook 3, it passes immediately back of the curved ends of said springs and is there held securely in position free from rebound until removed by,

journaled,a helical spring engaging said crossrod and a circular recess in said head or socket for housing said spring, an adjustable collar on said cross-rod to properly tension said spring, and an adjustable collar on the opposite end of said cross-rod, provided with recesses on an extension thereof to receive the beveled end of a rod on the head or socket, for holding the same in adjustment substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising a head, a handle and a \l-shaped hook secured thereto, said head being journaled on a rod, a coiled spring encircling said rod and engaging an adjustable collar and the side of the head for holding said head in engagement With the adjusting means at the opposite side of said head, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a head, a handle and a hook secured to opposite sides thereof, an adjustable collar having a flange, said flange being recessed or notched for the reception of a rod connected with said head for holding said hook in its adjustment, a coiled spring engaging the opposite side of said head for holding said head in engagement With the adjusting means, said head being recessed for the purpose of prointersecting said block or casting for the reception of the rod, said block or casting being adapted to rotate and reciprocate on said rod, a V-shaped hook an adjustable elongated neck connecting said hook with said block or casting, said V-shaped hook having bowshaped springs mounted thereon,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereto allixed my signature in the presence of two \vitnesses.

HAZELIUS S. BOS'll AN.

\Vitncsses:

JOHN T. DEAL, J. L. HoLsHowsnn. 

